When traveling with your family, selecting the best accommodation can make or break your trip. Airbnb provides a practical alternative to traditional hotels that are perfect for families. You can choose accommodations that are spacious, unique, and many times, more affordable than other places. However, booking the best Airbnb for your family involves a bit more consideration and planning. Here are the best tips for booking Airbnb for your family.
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DECIDE HOW MUCH SPACE YOU NEED
Before you even begin searching for a place to stay, you should figure out how much space your family needs. This means deciding how many bedrooms and bathrooms would be best.
If your family has young children you’ll want to check for a place that doesn’t have many breakables as well as a floor plan that makes it easy for the kids to sleep early without being disturbed.
If you have teenagers then additional living space and additional beds will be of prime importance.
When we’re booking our Airbnb we only choose places that will ensure that everyone has their own bed. It’s been fairly easy to find locations with our space requirements and it always works out well for us.
CHECK THE LOCATION
Location is important for maximizing your vacation time. It’s helpful to have a list of attractions that you want to visit in place so that you can compare it to the best possible location for your family.
If possible you can select an area that’s centrally located to cut down on transportation time and costs. Also verify the safety of the neighborhood that you want to stay in, especially if you plan to be out at night.
Use Google Maps to help you get a visual of the area and read through the reviews for the property.
READ REVIEWS THOROUGHLY
Guest reviews are vital to getting a clear picture of the place that you want to stay. Look for families that have stayed there and see what their experience was like.
Note the host’s responsiveness, cleanliness of the place, and issues with neighbors or the neighborhood. Obviously the more reviews, the better.
PRIORITIZE FAMILY-FRIENDLY AMENITIES
When traveling with kids, certain things can make your stay much more comfortable. Think of things that you’ll need such as cribs, high chairs, or even toys and games.
Some hosts go above and beyond and will offer things such as baby gates for stairs, covered electrical outlets, and child-proof cabinets. We’ve made great use of having a full kitchen so that we can prepare meals, save leftovers, and store fruit and other small snacks.
In-unit laundry facilities are a great thing to have for long stays.
COMMUNICATE WITH THE HOST
Once you’ve found your ideal place, contact the host with questions that you may have. This can include some of the amenities, the layout of the home, or confirming whether the wifi is fast enough for multiple devices.
The way a host responds before you arrive can give you an idea of how they’ll be once you arrive.
CHECK THE CANCELLATION POLICY
The unexpected always occurs in family travel, so it’s important to be familiar with the cancellation policy before booking your stay. Airbnb offers several types of cancellation policies and payment options.
Depending on your need for flexibility, choose a property that doesn’t lock you into a restrictive agreement.
CONSIDER LONG-TERM STAYS FOR DISCOUNTS
If you plan on taking a longer trip, look for hosts that offer discounts for weekly or monthly stays. This can help you to save some money on your trip and having a single home base instead of moving around a lot can be a lot less stressful for your family.
You’ll also have more time to enjoy your vacation and not spend as much time in transit.
SAFETY FIRST
When booking the property make sure that it is safe for children. Check for potential hazards and discuss them with your host before booking. Also, check if there are smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.
LOOK FOR FAMILY-SPECIFIC LISTINGS
There are some Airbnbs that are listed as family/kid-friendly. These places are often equipped to welcome kids, which means less stress for you and your family. They may be located near family-oriented attractions or other kid-friendly activities such as a pool or playground.
MAKE A PLAN FOR TRANSPORTATION
If your Airbnb is not within walking distance of major sites, plan ahead of time for transportation. If you need to rent a car, make the reservation as soon as possible to get the best rates and selection.
You’ll also want to check with the host to make sure that parking is available and if so, know where that parking is located.
When we rented a car in Portugal, there was parking available, but it was in a city lot a short walking distance from our apartment. Fortunately, we had a wonderful host who made sure we knew how to reach it.Â
For most of our trips we use public transportation extensively and it helps to be aware of how close you are to the nearest metro station, for example.
Depending on the distance and how often you plan to use public transportation, you may prioritize locations that are closer to metro stations and bus stops.
PACK SMART
While you expect an Airbnb to have most of the supplies that you need, it’s also smart to bring essential items for children such as favorite snacks, bedtime books, or a favorite blanket.
These simple items can help it feel like home. Also, be sure to bring other essentials that you’ll need for your stay.
ENJOY YOUR AIRBNB
Booking an Airbnb is an excellent choice for families on vacation. The benefits often make it the ideal type of accommodation to save money and enjoy more space and an authentic feel while traveling. Once you have your accommodations booked, check out our helpful guide on what to pack for your stay in an Airbnb as well as our awesome travel packing tips for parents. Have an awesome trip!